Lesson 14: Shoes of the Readiness for the Gospel of Peace, part 3
Ephesians 6:15 - …and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
What is the Gospel of Peace and how do I put that on my feet? We look at two options:
First, it is a peace we proclaim to others for Jesus Christ. This is referring to the "gospel" or the "good news." The "good news" that we are to proclaim to the lost is that they can be saved and be at peace with God. Some draw that conclusion from other passages written by Paul using a similar phrase. Romans 10:13-15 says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ ” While that may sound like the right answer, it does not match what we read in other Scriptures.
Ephesians 6:11 says we put on the whole armor so that we can stand against the devil’s schemes.
Verse 13 says we need to be prepared when an evil day arrives.
Verses 14-15 tell us that the whole armor is meant to be used as a whole – for a single purpose…to STAND.
Sharing the Gospel is a good thing to do and we are all called to do it, not only out of obedience to the Great Commission - but we do so in a sacrificial way, which is precisely why it makes the feet so beautiful in the first place (Isaiah 52:7).
The story is told of a village which claimed to have the best fishermen in the world. They formed a club and shared all the best techniques and produced the best lures for sale, and taught classes to all who wanted to learn. But these “fishermen” never went fishing! They only talked and earned money from giving advice. Someone finally asked the question – how can someone be called a fisherman if they never go fishing?
How about those of us who call ourselves Christians? Are we truly Christians if we do not follow in His footsteps and go fishing for men like He did? Sharing the Gospel with others so they can have peace with God through Jesus is not an option; it is a command. It is the Great Commission, not a Grand Suggestion. It is something each of us need to do, rather than just learning about it. It is what makes the feet beautiful – when we bring the good news of the Gospel. It is not just the good news about peace, but of forgiveness.
We continue with Option 2 in our next lesson.
Lesson 14: Shoes of the Readiness for the Gospel of Peace, part 3 Print
Modified on: Mon, 14 Dec, 2020 at 3:20 PM
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